Sustainable Investing Initiative Program

On January 17, 2018, CFA Society Boston partnered with Trillium Asset Management, the oldest independent investment advisor dedicated exclusively to sustainable and responsible investing, to bring you the first event that complements and expands on the Society’s annual full-day Sustainable Investing conference. This program helped us accomplish our goal of ensuring that CFA Society Boston’s sustainable investing initiatives enables us to be a leading voice for innovation and best practices in this rapidly growing investment management sector. Our events – designed to help mainstream professionals navigate the explosion of approaches and increased client demand – bring together thought leaders, practitioners, and asset owners to provide practical advice and share experience-based examples and insights.

Over half of all Americans – 164 million – live in coastal regions. They contribute to the 58% of US GDP generated in those regions. With increased flooding, more intense storms and extreme temperatures, climate change impacts are already real in those regions. As a consequence, the attendant investment risks and investment opportunities are intensifying. To address these risks and opportunities, we’ve convened a luncheon panel of experts on Wednesday, January 17.

With a focus on Boston and deep expertise both locally and beyond, the conversation will define the foremost climate related sea-level rise, heat, and health problems faced by Boston and the northeast region - and shared by all coastal cities. A broad range of solutions will be presented and discussed, with a focus on specific initiatives by the city, state, architectural community, and a climate-solutions mutual fund. Our panel conversation will offer investment professionals the necessary context and a starting point for assessing investment risks and opportunities in their own portfolios.

Moderated by Jack Robinson of Trillium Asset Management, the panel includes Bud Ris, the Climate advisor for Boston Green Ribbon Commission; Katie Theoharides, the Secretary of Climate Change for Massachusetts; Ellen Watts, President and co-founder of Architerra, an architectural firm dedicated to climate action through design excellence; and Lucas White, the lead portfolio manager for the GMO Climate Change Investment Strategy.